The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-09-09


arately; then, with a look of disappoint-
ment, she made a movement as if to go
out, when the servant stepped forward and
said, "Come in, Mrs. Holder"
els Henry here?" she asked. The girl
not appearing to know, n of the men an
swered:
"IIe didn't come down, Mrs. Holder; he
stayed at the camp"
She turned, stepped out into the snow,
and closed the door after her.
Shortly after dark the mercury began to
fall-or would have begun, had there been
any at that place to begin with, which |
much doubt; but it grew colder very fast.
The fine, sandy snow sifted in at every
crack and crevice of the badly constructed
and rickety houses Of the village, and,
drifting against the fences, itmade impass-
able barriers in the mountain passes and
roads.
1t was a wild night, and | still remember
it wildly. | was shown to al old fashion
ed bed, in an old fashioned room. Upon
the bed were piled almost enough blankets
to smother me, l thought, but toward the
end of the night, I found it impossible to
keep warm, and rose earlier than l other
wise should have done. Having dressed,
l CROPPED my way down the dark stairway
and through the chilly dining-room, to the
bar-room, where the fire made it more
comfortable. l found Roscoe sitting by
the great stove, and as soon as | stepped
in he told me that he had a caller.
''Rather cool for callers so early, isn't
ito" | asked.
Just what l thought when he came
in," was his reply. SIT was a man as
lives next to Holders. He says there's
been a bright light Albumin all night in
Holders house, an they don't believe
Mrs. Holders been there since she left,
about four O'Clock yesterday, and come
up here. He said they could see the bed
where they usually slept, and it was all
made up. That led 'em to try the door,
and indin' it unlocked, they went in, and
found the house cold, and no sign of any
one havin' been there all night; at least,
mont 'cept the lamp, and that might a
burnt all night, you know. My opinion is
that she's stayin' at one OF the neighbours,
though she never would leave the house o.
nights before"
Before nine o'clock that morning every
one in the village knew that the lumber
mans wife was missing, and many were
the opinions as to her whereabouts. 1t
was reported that some one had seen a
portion Of a woman's dress sticking out Of
a snow-drift in the outskirts of the town;
but the person who had seen it could not
be found.
One thing was certain, however, Mrs.
Holder was not in the village. After the
stormy night of drifting snow there were
no tracks to follow, and no one could sug-
gest a plausible theory as to where she
had gone; except that, perhaps, tired and
Disguised at her husband neglect, she had
concluded to go to some Of her relatives.
A party, composed of the landlord and
two others, traversed the whole village,
inquired at every house, searched her own,
and entered every stable and shed, but not
a trace of her could be found. Days,
weeks, and months passed, and the mys-
terry was still unsolved.
Holder himself arrived during the day,
and went directly home, not being aware
that his wife had disappeared until his
neighbors had informed him. He had
made his way home with great difficulty,
and was almost worn out from fatigue and
exposure. He seemed greatly shocked up
on receiving the intelligence of bis wife's
disappearance, but made no effort to trace
her.
When the weather had become warmer
and the snow had disappeared, VIZ began
work among the pines. Holder wen tC
an adjoining town, where his brother
lived, and stayed with him a few weeks,
helping in a mill which his brother owned
But he soon drifted back to M, and il
June he came to our camp, and asked fol-
work. AS he was a skilled mechanic,
hired him at once, and reinstated him ii
his old place among the workmen.
His companions told me that he was now
sour and morose, whereas, before his wife
had deserted him, he had generally beer
chearful and light-hearted. He woulG
have nothing to say about her to his fel
lows. One day in the fall-about the mid.
die of September, l think-he notified mt
that he intended stopping work the last o.
the month, and expected his wages by tina
time in full.
l told him that I should be sorry to lost
him, as indeed / was, for he had been
faithful workman under me, but that if ht
wished it | would pay him at the time
mentioned. | then asked him where hi
was going, he answered that he had no
yet decided. When he got ready he would
start out, he said, and go on until he goi
tired, and then stop.
Thinking that he might have got some
clue as to the whereabouts of his wife,
took the opportunity of asking him con
corning her. He bitterly replied that hi
knew nothing about her, and wanted t.
know nothing; she had deserted him, III
said, and he wished never to see her again.
TRUE" he added, my habits were
none of the best, but | always provided FOL